Gun season underway for Ionia County hunters

As gun hunting season opens today, community members from across the county will be seen donning their gear and heading out into the woods in hopes of bagging the biggest buck.

Chad Thelen, branch president of the Clinton/Ionia Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) said he feels deer hunting is so popular because of the sport being passed down through generations.

"It's a tradition more than anything," said Thelen.

Walmart Super Center Sporting Goods Supervisor Chadwick Heller said as of 4 p.m. the store sold about $2,500 worth of hunting licenses Wednesday alone, and more hunters were purchasing them that evening. He added he has noticed there are less licenses being purchased this year and more local hunters choosing not to hunt due to the outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD).

The disease, which does not affect humans, has been found in 30 counties across the lower half of Michigan, but the Michigan Department of Natural Resources did not cancel any hunting season. Instead, the DNR will look at the season structure for next year while they continue to monitor and tweak hunting regulations.

However, due to its affect on many herds, the DNR director chose to limit licenses for antlerless deer after Nov. 8, but allowed hunters who purchased more licenses before the date to keep them.

In order to escape the areas hit hard by EHD, Thelen said hunters are likely to use their networks to hunt with family or friends in other counties.

Thelen said although he has heard of only one person who is choosing not to hunt this year, he believes the sales of doe tags will decrease significantly in Ionia County and surrounding areas.

"That's the big impact that we're hearing," he added.

For more information about this year's gun hunting season, visit www.michigan.gov/dnr.